St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge, Greater Manchester
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Greater Manchester. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 70th-highest of the 98 schools in Wigan with published results, and 10,359th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wigan (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge in detail
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "As Headteacher, I take immense pride in our wonderful school and the vibrant, history-rich, family-oriented community we are privileged to serve St Michael's is a happy, busy, and friendly place where children are at the heart of everything we do."
The school runs a breakfast club, from £6.00 per day.
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 4.30pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Wigan and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 92% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge
For September 2026 entry, 38 families put St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge as their first choice and 84 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 12 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge are Parklee Primary School (0.7 miles); Atherton St George's CofE Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 78% reading, 76% maths); St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton (0.8 miles, Good, 54% reading, 75% maths); and Meadowbank Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths).
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Parklee Primary SchoolAtherton St George's CofE Primary SchoolSt Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School AthertonMeadowbank Primary School
Who goes there
11.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hag Fold Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hope Fold Avenue (near), 90 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge are Atherton High School (0.5 miles), The Westleigh School (1.1 miles) and Fred Longworth High School (1.1 miles).
Atherton High SchoolThe Westleigh SchoolFred Longworth High School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's October 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Michael's is a caring school where children thrive academically and socially. Reading is central to the curriculum, with pupils becoming confident, fluent readers. The school provides excellent support for pupils with additional needs, ensuring they are fully included and able to succeed.
Key Strengths
- Strong reading programme with high-quality texts and expert phonics teaching that helps pupils become accomplished readers
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, enabling them to access the full curriculum and grow in confidence
- Well-behaved, respectful pupils who support each other and contribute positively to school life
- Carefully structured curriculum that builds secure knowledge as pupils progress through the school
- Good relationships between school, parents and carers with clear communication about supporting learning
Areas for Improvement
- Some children in early years do not learn to correctly form letters, which hinders their writing development in key stage 1
- Teachers lack clarity about what pupils should learn about cultural diversity, meaning pupils do not build secure understanding of different cultures
- Need to ensure pupils are better prepared to live in Britain's culturally diverse society
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff ensuring pupils feel safe and supported when upset or worried.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast club
St Michael's CofE Primary School is a good school where pupils are happy, well-behaved and supported by caring staff. The school provides a well-structured curriculum that enables pupils to build secure knowledge and achieve well.
At a Glance
21.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 92% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 81% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 92% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
29.3
Infant (KS1)
29.8
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge is in Wigan; for families living there:
Apply to Wigan for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge
Will you get a place at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge? Get the admissions report
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What the report includes for St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Wigan, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wigan got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
101%
Over capacity
212 pupils
210 places
2 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Greater Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Greater Manchester
Across Wigan council
Places available
3,894
Applications
3,541
Got 1st preference
88.7%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All primary applications across Wigan council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
33
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
20.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
207
Total Pupils
99
Boys
108
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
23.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,273
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,143
Per pupil
£1198k
Total funding
£53k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
8.6%
Persistent absence
185
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge
Questions parents ask about St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge
What are SATs results like at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge?
Of the pupils at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% reached the expected standard in reading and 70% did so in maths.
What is St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge's Ofsted rating?
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2009 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge?
No fixed boundary. When St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge?
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge?
Classes at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge average 29.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge?
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge has around 207 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge?
4.6% of sessions were missed at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge in 2024/25. 8.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge?
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge is at Leigh Road, Atherton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, M46 0PA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)